Create the kitchen of your dreams with these clever, sophisticated and stylish ideas.
As they say, the kitchen is the heart of the home. But living with a cramped floor plan and outdated kitchen cabinets can make it feel more like heartbreak than true love. In this photo gallery of kitchen design ideas, you’ll find plenty of clever ways to transform your cooking area from a “used to be better” to your dream kitchen.
When it comes to big and small kitchen ideas on a budget, color is probably the easiest way to make a big impact. Whether you want to paint your cabinets, walls, ceilings, or floors, these kitchen color ideas are a great help. (And while we love all the timeless white kitchen ideas, we’ve never seen anyone not love a green or blue kitchen!) Here are some other quick and inexpensive weekend DIY projects to try. It can be as simple as replacing cabinet hardware, replacing outdated fixtures with cool kitchen lighting ideas, or displaying your favorite collections on open shelves (it’ll feel new and it’s free!).
If you’re simply bored with your kitchen and want a complete overhaul, set up a contractor on speed dial and have a budget to wow. Renovating with kitchen layout ideas can be a bit complicated, but the investment to create the most functional and beautiful space ever is worth it. So let’s get started with these clever kitchen decorating ideas.
Here are some more kitchen ideas to help you create the cooking area of your dreams:
- Dress up your kitchen with wallpaper (really!)
- These stylish kitchen island ideas are suitable for big and small kitchens
- Create a cozy and timeless feel in your kitchen with rustic farmhouse style
Opt for bright colors:
In this bright yellow kitchen, the custom Shaker-style cabinets and 7-foot-tall wood-panel backsplash are painted bright yellow. Design details like William Morris wallpaper, gingham cafe curtains, and plaid flooring add extra fun.
Add some sparkle:
In this tiny Ohio cottage kitchen, the simple Shaker-front cabinets, soapstone countertops, and muted taupe walls create a similarly no-frills feel, but the sparkle of the zellige tiles on the backsplash and the gold flecks on the picture frames add just the right amount of sparkle.
Install open shelves:
To make her farmhouse kitchen feel airy and open, homeowner and photographer Helen Norman installed three rows of simple corbel shelves on two walls. “I think kitchens are more breathable when they’re open at the top,” she says. Open shelves also have other notable benefits, like space to display your collection and keep it free for guests to use (no need to open all the cabinets to find your coffee mug). Mix Countertop Materials
Mix Countertop Materials:
There are a variety of great countertops available on the market, so you can mix and match materials as needed. For example, use marble on the sink wall and a wooden countertop on the sides. This same design idea is also often used in farmhouse kitchens with kitchen islands, with some type of countertop around the edges and a contrasting material on the island.
